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Everyone gushes, rightly so, about the amazing work #TheRiver1Magic excel at with their season peak and finale extravaganza episodes and climatic story block midseason.
Let me draw your attention to something else the show has perfected ... using music as an emotional wallpaper.
Let me draw your attention to something else the show has perfected ... using music as an emotional wallpaper.
Not since Backstage ... well actually let’s go right back to Yizo Yizo and Gazlam, to recently Rhythm City, has a show incorporated music in the mise-en-scene and plot so seamlessly like The River.
But, The River, instead of being a copy of shows past, it has evolved the trope
But, The River, instead of being a copy of shows past, it has evolved the trope
Stay with me, yes... Yizo and Gazlam made soundtracks in SA tv shows a thing.
Backstage perfected incorporating music to their story plot & created music stars of their cast members.
But, The River in our current landscape is not trying to sell you the music or push musicians
Backstage perfected incorporating music to their story plot & created music stars of their cast members.
But, The River in our current landscape is not trying to sell you the music or push musicians
Instead of glaringly saying to the viewer; Hey there is this song or this musician you have to know of or buy into, the music in The River is a conduit rather than a commodity.
On #TheRiver1Magic, while the music is key component to drive a scene, it is not the focal point.
On #TheRiver1Magic, while the music is key component to drive a scene, it is not the focal point.
That’s not to say the writers aren’t intentional with the score. Of course they choose the music and artist specifically to highlight the talent or sound.
But for a viewer, the move comes off as par for course. You literally have to have someone point it out, to applaud.
But for a viewer, the move comes off as par for course. You literally have to have someone point it out, to applaud.
Think Mbali’s funeral episode. The haunting scene of the funeral progression at the cemetery at Mbali’s funeral.
Phendi’khulume seamlessly weaving through the dialogue as the song plays.
Great and perfect for the scene as the song was, it was not the story or part of!
Phendi’khulume seamlessly weaving through the dialogue as the song plays.
Great and perfect for the scene as the song was, it was not the story or part of!
That’s where, in my opinion, the ingenuity and progressiveness of #TheRiver1Magic shines.
Music for the aforementioned episodes are emotional wallpaper and conduit to tell the story, not the anchor the story is beholden to.
For that, I give a nod to the team.
Music for the aforementioned episodes are emotional wallpaper and conduit to tell the story, not the anchor the story is beholden to.
For that, I give a nod to the team.
To close off, let’s look at this week’s wedding episode. The song that closed the season, an aria Ave Maria, sang by The Pearl aka Mandisa Mathebula
It was specially recorded for the episode but its presence as a close off for the ep was felt!
It was specially recorded for the episode but its presence as a close off for the ep was felt!
